The Best Ways to Enjoy Nature in Atlanta

Also known as the “City in a Forest,” Atlanta has several locales and annual events dedicated to celebrating the city's tree canopy

Atlanta is known for many things, including its beautiful tree canopy. In fact, more than 36 percent of the city is covered in trees, making it one of the most densely forested cities in the country. And now that it’s spring, there’s no better time to revel in the lush surroundings of our “city in a forest.” To truly enjoy the beauty the metro area has to offer, check out these can’t-miss locales and annual events.

What better place to start than the city’s beloved botanical garden? Located adjacent to Piedmont Park in Midtown, this 30-acre venue will introduce you to a wide array of spring blooms, as well as the Canopy Walk, the only canopy-level walkway of its kind in the United States. The 12-foot-wide path, which sits 40 feet in the air, will make you feel like you’re floating among the oaks, hickories and poplars that line the woodland garden from above.

Atlanta’s Dogwood Festival is a three-day event that celebrates the blooming of the city’s beautiful dogwood trees by welcoming attendees to Piedmont Park to shop fine arts booths, listen to live music, delight in delicious food booths, enjoy family-friendly activities and more.

It’s like a secret garden waiting to be discovered. This seven-acre public conservation park doubles as a community garden and boasts walking trails, a spring-fed creek, a frog pond and more. It is located mere miles from downtown Atlanta and is managed by residents of the neighborhood.

Located north of Atlanta, PATH400 runs along Georgia State Route 400 and has become a favorite among walkers, joggers and cyclists. The 5.2-mile multi-use greenway winds through the heart of Buckhead and eventually will join with the Atlanta BeltLine to the south and a trail system to the north in Sandy Springs.